Spartan Up!: A Take-No-Prisoners Guide to Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Peak Performance in Life

I only stumbled across Joe De Sena a few days ago after making the decision to sign up for a Spartan Beast race for this October in the UK. Having made the commitment I listened to a few podcasts and watched a few Youtube clips which was enough for me to realise that I wanted to know more about the man who devised the endurance insanity I have signed up for!De Sena strikes me as a man who walks his talk and genuinely wants to share the model for personal transformation that has led to his own success and has forged his character. The book is easy to become engrossed in and has much to offer, whether you are an athlete or simply someone who is curious to find out what all the hype is about.He has a bold ambition - to make Obstacle Racing part of the Olympics and, if the quality of the thoughts outlined in this text are any indication, he may well just pull it off! I am kind of sad that I have come to the end of the book because now I have no reason not to 'Spartan Up' and get in my Workout for the Day! I love this book but Buck Furpees!

Desena really walks the talk, unlike many authors of books that aim to motivate you. He is clearly an extraordinary, ordinary guy; he came from an ordinary background and has been hugely successful in all areas of life, health, family, business etc. Yet he manages to break down these successes into basic principles which are both obvious and possible for anyone reading this book to follow.Desena writes with a sharp wit and dry humour that makes Spartan Up enlighteningly motivational, rather than the usual dictatorial lifestyle guide books.If by the end of the book, you are not desperate for fresh air, fresh food and a few extra miles/burpees every day... you simply didn't read it! See you all at the finish line...: )

I bought this book after competing in a Spartan Race and everything about the race, the culture and mentality becomes more clear when you read this book. The book itself was an easy read and gives you principles you can apply to everyday life, it also provides you with other peoples motivational and inspiring stories along with how the races themselves have changed their lives and mentality. Even at the end of the book when it says "you'll know at the finish line" is true. Since reading this book I am more focused more determined than ever with both with physically and psychologically. Joe de Sena seems like such an inspiring guy with a great attitude.I would have given it a 5 star but I do think that you would relate to it better once you have completed a Spartan Race yourself. I have recommended the book to my mate but I don't think they would connect with it as much as they have not completed a race.

It was a surprisingly easy read and something I felt like I could relate to - even though I've never done an endurance event of any sort. It's primarily about changing your frame of reference, which you can apply to every day life (e.g. work often gets too much for me but it's all been put into context by changing my frame of reference).Since reading the book, I've signed up for Men's Health Survival of the Fittest and am about to sign-up for a duathlon :)Am trying to get my girlfriend to read it now!

UK Spartan Beast last year was my first Obstacle Course Race - this book is designed to change your frame of reference, and reminds me why I enjoy OCR so much:"Our fight-or-flight mechanism is supposed to kick in when we are running from a lion to save our lives, not when our brussels sprouts are slightly undercooked"This is not a training manual or a diet book - although there are hints that both may be produced in the future - but it is a motivational handbook for a healthier attitude to life.

It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, I am always intertested in what makes the successful amongst us tick. Ovetrall it is a decent read but at points he gets a little deep into his beliefs which I have to admit began to bore me after a while. A truly inspirational man in the endurance world but I am not about to give up my car, move to a farm and begin organic farming ha ha ......Its not bad

What an inspirational read! I like reading and try to read quite a bit and still this goes straight to my top 10 reads, maybe top 5 even! I know I will re-read it and I read it as a mental preparation to my first spartan race. It's more than paid for itself in the lessons and inspiration it's shared. Recommended to everyone who is interested in becoming more than they currently are!

I have read many self-help books and autobiographies alike.Spartan Up! offers the perfect mix of the two, with many easily understood philosophies that you can apply to your own life. The book is written and structured very well, will plenty of inspiring stories. The ends of some of the chapters contain "Spartan Up! Life Lessons"; small stories that really hit the spot.I would recommend this to anyone.

Great book! Easy to read, very insightful and practical information to follow

Libro arrivato con anticipo rispetto alla data prevista. Angoli della copertina un po’ rovinati, forse l’imballaggio andrebbe curato un po’ di più per evitare appunto l’usura del libro.Per quanto riguarda il contenuto: inglese non troppo complicato quindi lo consiglio anche a chi solitamente non legge libri in inglese. Molto carino e interessante. Sicuramente un libro da leggere se si è intenzionati a partecipare ad una Spartan o se si è già spartani! 🤟🏼

Une bible pour tous les Spartan racers mais pas uniquement. Une réelle nouvelle approche d'une meilleure"way of life". Tout simplement le meilleur livre que je n'ai jamais lu sur le sujet.

Books explains what it means to be a Spartan and became like one by pushing your mind and body past your preconceived limits . I am looking forward to participate in a spartan race and transform my life after reading this book .

I've done four Spartan races over four years, but never knew the story behind the race. As it turns out, it's not just a race, it's a way of life, as this book chronicles so well. Joe is crazy, and I love him for being that way, his wife too and all their immediate and extended family. I'm going through the book again, this time with a highlighter to underline the parts of the book that will MAKE MY LIFE BETTER. I recommend this book, especially as a gift to people you know who need a not-so-gentle-nudge to get off the metaphorical couch of life in the modern world. There are many things to change in ourselves, and in the way we live. Aroo!